Marjorie M. Liu

THURSDAY:

Title: New York Times OUT and Geeks Out present LGBT and Allies in Comics

Time: 6:15PM – 7:15PM
Location: 1A14

Speakers: Dan Parent, Daniel Ketchum, Greg Pak, Marjorie Liu, Rich Bernatovech

Description: The New York Times OUT and Geeks Out join forces to present a panel where LGBT characters and their allies will be discussed by comic book professionals. We will be discussing their use in mainstream comics, independent/creator-owned comics and comic book movies. Moderated by New York Times Book Review Staff Editor, Jude Biersdorfer

FRIDAY:

Title: MARVEL: Amazing X-Men & The Marvel Universe
Time: 11:00AM – 12:00PM
Location: Empire Stage 1-E Presented by: Arizona Beverages

Speakers: Brian Wood, Dennis Hopeless, Gerry Duggan, Marjorie Liu, Nick Lowe, Peter David

Description: X-fans cannot skip this panel! Hear about the future of the X-Universe, straight from editors and creators working on current (and future!) X- titles. Have questions about X-Men Battle of the Atom? Curious what mutantkind will look like following the crossover? Get a special look at Amazing X-Men, the brand new title that will resurrect a favorite mutant from years past! Plus, exciting All-New Marvel NOW news for the X-Universe and beyond! Panel will feature Senior Editor Nick Lowe, Peter David (X-Factor), Gerry Duggan (Deadpool), Dennis Hopeless (Cable and X-Force), Marjorie Liu (Astonishing X-Men), and Brian Wood (X-Men) and more!

SIGNING AT MARVEL BOOTH: 5-6 PM

GUYS, I’M IN AUSTRALIA!

I’ve been tweeting about this, and posting on Facebook, but I’m here in Australia for the next 20 days, attending two writers festivals and a reading/signing in Sydney.  My first event hits tomorrow, and I’ve posted my entire schedule for Melbourne.  For more information about Sydney, check out the following link:  Galaxy Bookstore and ARRA.  More information on my Brisbane schedule to follow.

Friday 23 Aug 2013 at 02.00 pm

Masterclass: Speculative Fiction – SOLD OUT

A master of speculative fiction, Marjorie M. Liu is a New York Times best-selling author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels. In this insightful masterclass, Marjorie will share her techniques and approaches to creating worlds, creating structure and compelling narratives, writing characters people care about, and tips to writing series.

Venue: The Wheeler Centre – Workshop space

Code: 6202
Price: $140/120.00

Saturday 24 Aug 2013 at 11.30 am

Inside X-Men – ALMOST SOLD OUT

New York Times best-selling author Marjorie M. Liu is no stranger to fantasy and the paranormal; she even knows a few things about superheroes. Marjorie speaks with Joe Morris from Non-Canonical Comics Podcast about her work with Marvel Comics and the supernatural world of X-Men.

This is an AUSLAN interpreted event. Please contact the box office on 9999 1199 to purchase AUSLAN tickets.

Venue: NGV Theatrette at Ian Potter Centre:NGV Australia
Code: 6302
Price: $21.50/19.50

Sunday 25 Aug 2013 at 04.00 pm

Modern Love

Romance has always been a hot genre (excuse the pun) but erotica is increasingly crossing over into the mainstream. Join New York Times best-selling paranormal romance author Marjorie M Liu and editor of Smart Bitches, Trashy Books blog Sarah Wendell in a discussion about the appeal of reading (and writing) romance and erotica. Chaired by Stephanie van Schilt.

Venue: ACMI Cinema 1

Code: 4405
Price: $21.50/19.50

Yes, that does require big bold letters!

I wasn’t able to attend SDCC this weekend (last minute, very hard decision), but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a treat for attendees.  If you go to Booth 2203, you’ll find a card with the cover of the next Hunter Kiss novel, Labyrinth of Stars.  The cover has never been released until now — and you’ll be the first to see it.  Better yet, you’ll have the chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Amazon.com (hint: it involves the creative use of social media).  While you’re there, say hi to the wonderful Anne Elizabeth, and check out her fantastic comic books and novels.  The incredible Christine Feehan will also be in attendance.  Romance fans, go wild.

In other news, I’ll be joining a cast of superstars in the 40th anniversary celebration of warrior barbarian, Red Sonja! Dynamite Entertainment is releasing a four-issue miniseries written by an all-female team (and leading us into battle is Gail Simone)! Check out the press release for more information.

Finally, I’ll be attending the Melbourne Literary Festival from August 23-25th. More information and my schedule here.

I take a break from deadlines, in order to present these photos of a squirrel outside our window, who just the other day was frantically building its nest. Like, this squirrel was grabbing branches like there weren’t going to be any left, ever, if it didn’t get them right now.  Aiyeeee!

I know some people have a love/hate relationship with squirrels.  I understand completely.  There used to be a rowdy nest of them in our attic when I was a kid, and they were always having babies and orgies, and not using the proper plumbing for their little squirrel excretions, and it was just one big hot mess.  My dad hated it.  My mom and I pretended we hadn’t encouraged their move into our home with our nut-happy feeding sessions in the front yard.

But despite all the trouble they can cause, I still love squirrels.  I can’t help it.  They’re smart and rascally, and terribly industrious.  They love to talk, they love to play — and look at those tails!  Beautiful.

I wish you a happy nest, squirrel, and many chubby babies.

PANEL DISCUSSION + Q&A: Race, Gender & Sexualities in American Comic Books with Marjorie Liu, Greg Pak and Paolo Javier.

DATE: Wednesday, May 29, 2013
TIME: 11:45 am – 1:00 pm
LOCATION: LaGuardia Community College, Room E-111

Join us for an exciting conversation/Q&A with Marvel/DC comic book writers Marjorie Liu (Astonishing X-Men), Greg Pak (Incredible Hulk and next year, Batman/Superman) and Professor Paolo Javier.

I love to garden, but having no actual yard in Boston means that I have to make my own opportunities to play in the dirt.  I’ll take any excuse, really.  My idea of fun is wandering through local greenhouses, inhaling the sweet scent of healthy plants, and fantasizing about my dream garden — which would be lush, overgrown, wild, and a perfect home for bunnies like the one that ran in front of me yesterday while I was ambling down a narrow gravel path between the rhododendrons and potted Japanese maples.

I don’t have much more room in the apartment for plants, but there’s a nice spot in the kitchen that’s been dying for some color — so I settled on geraniums (the plant with the fronds has been with us for a while, and needed to be re-potted…or else its roots were going to strangle someone in the night).

I love geraniums…they are the friendliest plants, and under the right conditions (hint: a lot of sun, a warm room, and some fertilizer), they can grow to be huge monsters that will live for years and years.  I’m going to see how long I can keep these Boston geraniums going — I’m not entirely convinced there will be enough light in the kitchen, but fingers crossed.

I also keep orchids, and truth be told, those are my babies.  I’ve had them for well over a year, some close to two, and now the reblooming phase has begun, and wow — it’s happening like crazy.  New blooms, new fast-growing stalks, a couple keikis — it’s orchid madness!

Plants add so much life to a home.  Are there any in particular you’re fond of?

(the following post is from a year or two ago, but it says what’s in my heart)

When it comes to the things that matter, words are—for the most part—inadequate. Yet, all of us are here because of those who have come before—in flesh and in spirit—and as this weekend belongs to mothers and their mothers, and so on, I’d like to take a moment to say thank you to my mother, both my grandmothers, and all those others who came before—for being Red Sonjas and Pippi Longstockings: fearless, moral, compassionate, quirky, and unbreakable.

Happy Mother’s Day, with all my love.

Happy Mother's Day! Pictured here: both my grandmothers, and my mother (and me).

Not just any unicorn pants, but THE MOST AWESOME unicorn pants I’ve ever seen.  Actually, they’re more like leggings, but who cares?  They are purple, with stars, and rainbows, and UNICORNS — and I think water is probably purified, sins cast away, and diseases cured, just by standing in their presence.

Maya, holding up the unicorn pants. Because a little bit of distance is needed in order to fully appreciate their majesty.

Going eye to eye with the unicorn...

I totally could not resist trying these on. After that, I was a goner.

I’ve already worn them.  And not just in the dressing room of Urban Outfitters.  Also, not on the street.  But I have modeled them around the house, gotten cozy in them (because they’re actually incredibly soft, comfy leggings).  And now, I think I can safely say, unicorn pants have become part of my deadline wardrobe (consisting of sweatshirts, jogging pants, etc).

Because, my friends, unicorns ROCK.

The beginning of a new arc hits shelves today, drawn by the wonderful Gabriel Hernandez Walta.

Back when I started thinking about this storyline, all I knew was that I wanted to write about Iceman.  Bobby Drake is a favorite character of mine — the jokester, the nice guy, the occasional voice of sanity on the X-team.  But there’s always been more to him than that. Where to start, though? What’s his problem?

Well, it turns out Bobby has a lot of problems.  And like any normal person, he’s been good at avoiding his problems.  Until, finally, it all catches up with him.

And bad things happen.

If you’re interested in checking this issue out — and it’s a good place to start if you’ve never read my comics before — you can find it at your local comic book store, or you can purchase it as a digital read at Comixology.